“Now listen carefully to me. I need you to stay away from that ridge until I tell you otherwise. You understand?”
She nodded quickly.
“And don’t go wandering around those woods alone anymore.”
“I won’t.”
“You tell anybody else?”
Clara hesitated.
Then shook her head.
“No.”
“Good.”
Again—that flicker.
“Sheriff Scott…” Her eyes filled suddenly. “Please don’t tell Sam.”
Burton frowned slightly.
“Why?”
“Because he already fought with Wade tonight. Bad.” Her voice cracked. “And if Sam thinks something dangerous is happening out there, he’ll go after them himself.”
Tears slid free now.
“I can’t let something happen to him because of me.”
Burton studied her for a long second.
Then quietly:
“You love him.”
Clara glanced down.
“Yes.”
Something softened in Burton’s expression then.
The sheriff disappearing long enough for the father underneath to show through.
“Nothing’s going to happen to Sam Talley tonight,” he said gently.
From the lobby, Burke’s laugh drifted faintly through the doorway at something Charlene said to him.
Burton’s eyes flicked briefly toward the sound before returning to Clara.
“I’m going to look into this myself.”
Clara nodded shakily.
“But you go home. Lock your doors. Stay close to people you trust.”
He held her gaze.
